The Why, the when and the HOW MUCH!!!!!!😱
Having travelled in Europe from 2011 until Brexit and then Covid put a stop to that lifestyle in 2020 we have itched to go back into Europe particularly our favourite winter destination Portugal. At the end of March 2024 we went with pals Jan and Pete on a four day city break to Lisbon. Peter operates the YouTube channel Grey Matters and I have embedded below the channels’ episode about the trip. If you are of “a certain age” why not check out the other Grey Matters videos
On arrival at Lisbon Airport Sue went base over apex. Long story short – the bus (operated by Ryanair) transporting passengers from the plane to the arrivals hall stopped to drop us of in an area where the lighting was defective, when Sue tripped over in the half light Ryanair insisted on an ambulance being called, they tried to insist she be taken to A&E for a full examination but after a thorough examination in the ambulance the crew dressed her head wound and decreed that although she would have two black eyes and a headache an A&E visit was unnecessary. Amazing how attentive Ryaniar can be when they see the possibility of being on the expensive end of a negligence lawsuit.
Although we did enjoy the break, despite appalling the weather, I absolutely hated the time spent in the airports both Stansted and Lisbon and detested the time spent in the cramped rather grubby aeroplane surrounded by people who seemed to treat every rule as applying to everyone except them.
I could not believe how much I hated the airport/flying, I came to air travel quite late in life my first flight was in 1995 and I fell in love with the whole experience, the excitement of being at the airport waiting to jet off, the thrill of the takeoff, the boredom of a long flight laced with excitement of what was to come. I loved every minute with a passion.
On the flights to Lisbon and back I hated it with equal passion and vowed never to board an aeroplane again – ever.
Well that gave us a bit of a problem. We love travelling but without flying. How?
There are still lots of places in Europe we haven’t visited yet. Of course there are lots of places out of Europe we would like to visit but until I get over my “ . . . I’m not going to fly again ever . . . ” grumpy old man, nose cutting and face spiting strop, which might take days or weeks, even months or years we will have to be content with Europe.
After consideration we decided that although a car and caravan combo has many advantages this time we would get a motorhome. To be fair we had been considering such a move for six months or more and had even at one point put a deposit on a 2023 (ex display) Bailey Adamo, however when we tried to get insurance we could not answer all the questions without telling porkies which could (if discovered) have rendered any policy invalid.
Oh blimey, how do we get legal insurance. Our banks accept an accommodation address, the Dept. for Work and Pensions do, likewise HM Revenue and Customs, even the DVLA will accept an accommodation address but will insurance companies? No they bloody well won’t!!
To progress our latest dream we decided to pull back on the current one and move onto a residential mooring, if we could find one available as they tend to be as common as rocking horse manure. It would not necessarily curtail our summer cruising but would enable us to spend three months travelling Europe over the winter months.
After much research and internet searching we found an available residential mooring at Trinity Waterside and Marina in Hinckley, Leicestershire on the beautiful Ashby Canal which although quite expensive would allow us all the benefits of a house dweller – registering with a doctor, registering to vote, a legal registered address, ability to take out vehicle insurance without telling any porkies, etc., etc,.
We arrived at Trinity Marina on 26th April 26 days after our mooring contract began, a testament to the ‘orrible weather we have been having, so far, this year.
We have been researching and looking at motorhomes since early in the year and our search has gradually whittled down the choices and now we are ensconced on our residential mooring the search can begin in earnest.
Bring it on!!
You will, of course have noticed that despite the title no mention has been made of the cost of these things, Think “an arm and a leg” double that and you will not be too far out.